Tribeca Trumpet: A Street Corner Musician's Summer Job

The soulful sounds of a trumpet drifted from a Tribeca street corner this summer, mellow melodies from the horn of Emma Huibregtse, on break from the University of Southern California, where she is a sophomore.  Huibregtse was a frequent sight—and sound—at Greenwich and Warren streets just outside her alma mater, P.S. 234, where she was introduced to the instrument in 4th- grade band.

Although music is not her main pursuit these days (she is a film major), the start she got with the school's band teacher, professional trumpeter Matt Ragsdale, was paying off with what she called "pretty much my summer job."

"I was looking for a way to raise money for college and this has been great," the musician said. "I'm practicing at the same time and earning some cash that I can use for room and board or whatnot."

On a good day, Huibregtse noted, she could rake in $100 for a few hours of effort. Indeed, as old standards like "Misty," Summertime," and "Fly Me to the Moon" rang out, the dollar bills dropped into her instrument case.

"Send me off to college," the sign in her case read.

"This is a great corner," the trumpeter said. "You have people stopping to go into Whole Foods, or waiting for the light so they're kind of forced to listen."

And many don't mind.

"That sounds really nice," said a woman who was passing by. "I'm so glad you do this."

Huibregtse said she gets many more favorable comments like that one than the couple of complaints from neighbors who didn't want the sound of a horn in their apartments.

"They just asked me quite pleasantly if I could move and I did,"  she recalled.

Aside from the money, Huibregtse said, she enjoys the people she meets and the randomness of their reactions to her music. "Some people say, 'That's my favorite song." Some people say I'm playing  a song too happy or too sad or it reminds them of a time long ago. I get to hear a lot of people's stories and I find them inspiring."

Huibregtse said she doesn't feel at all vulnerable, standing on a city street corner playing her music.  "The trumpet," she said, "makes me feel empowered."